Henry II’s Lands and Territories

Henry was from Anjou

Angevin means ‘from Anjou’

By 1154 Henry already had:

England

Normandy

Anjou, Maine and Touraine

Aquitaine

Via Eleanor of Aquitaine

Brittany in 1158

The Vexin in 1160

Ireland in 1171

He also wanted …

To be acknowledged as overlord of the king of Scotland

and princes of Wales

To make good a claim to Toulouse he inherited

upon marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine

Malcolm IV of Scotland

Vassal of the French King

Greater land than the French King

Louis VII’s concerns:

Being overwhelmed by Angevin power

He wanted to be the most powerful man in France

A strong inheritance for his son

Not born until 1165

Before then, Louis VII focused on making marriage

alliance with Henry II

Contiguous lands

Dwarfed French king’s lands

In France, though, French king was Henry II’s overlord

Normandy: some Anglo-Normans

Had belonged to king of England since 1066 – William the Conqueror

Aquitaine still Eleanor’s

More remote areas = rebellious

More independent local lords

Who could go over Henry’s head as local lord to the overlord of France

King of France

In England Henry II is at the top:

King and feudal overlord to

everyone

In France, Louis VII is at the top:

King and feudal overlord to

everyone.

Henry is a baron – a duke.